Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Try it after you take a bite of shrimp,” the server says, adding more wine to my glass. “I think you’ll enjoy it.”
“Will there be a different wine with each course?” I ask.
He smiles and nods. “So don’t overindulge.”
“I never do.”
Only one person at the table hasn’t had any wine yet—the person to my left, Heather.
She takes a sip of the pink wine and smiles. “Wow, this is delicious!”
Great. Not only is she my competition for Sebastian, she also knows more about wine than I do.
Heck, she probably knows more about everything than I do, except maybe catching lightning bugs on a hot summer night.
“This is really delicious, Ariel,” she says after swallowing a bite of shrimp with coleslaw. “You and Sebastian knocked it out of the park.”
“Thank you, though we really didn’t do much. Marc had to remake the whole thing.”
“I’m sure your version would have been just as delicious.” She takes another sip of the wine.
I raise my own glass to my lips. The appetizer is good. Maybe Sebastian and I have a chance to win this thing after all.
And if we do win?
Who will I choose for my private date?
I’d pretty much already decided on Sebastian, but now I’m not sure.
Because at the opposite end of the table sits a man who I haven’t talked to at all since he arrived.
A hot cowboy with a shock of dark hair and even darker eyes.
A hot cowboy with a chiseled, stubbled jawline and a strong and steady gaze who’s eating in silence.
Still waters run deep, as Mama says.
I think I might like to take a swim.
EPISODE 105
A GOOD FLOGGING
Emily
Ariel and Sebastian’s shrimp and coleslaw is divine. It tickles my tastebuds with umami and spice and just the right mixture of textures. Already I know it will beat our callaloo…and I’m okay with that.
Because it will also keep Misty’s claws off River for another day.
But who’s to say that whoever does win won’t choose River? I may have been initially attracted to Sebastian and his celebrity good looks, but it’s River who’s occupying my mind. Probably because we’ve humped like we were the last two people on earth, and he’s a god in bed. Plus, Misty is obsessed with him, which keeps him at the top of my thoughts as well.
I take a sip of the dry rosé that perfectly accentuates everything about the appetizer. Ariel and Sebastian may just win this thing despite my unwitting interference. Who’s to say the others won’t be feeling sorry for Ariel? They may cast their votes her way.
Misty is at the other end of the table, across from Ariel. Alex sits between Misty and me, and he’s a lovely companion. I’m not usually drawn to the strong and silent type—unless his name is River Barrett—but I’m finding Alex to be not so silent. His conversation never falters, and though I don’t read a lot of fiction, I make a mental note to check out his bestsellers.
“Your dish is up next,” he says to me. “How do you think it will compare to this one?”
“It won’t. It’s greens, for goodness’ sake.”
He takes a sip of his wine and smiles. “I love greens. You don’t live in Louisiana without learning to appreciate greens of all kinds.”
“The callaloo is delicious,” I say, “but this appetizer was sublime.”
“It was,” he agrees. “But don’t sell yourself short.”
“I’m not.” I wipe my lips with my cloth napkin. “I’m selling the dish short. Even though it’s Katie’s favorite, and I’ll admit she taught us how to make it shine.”
He nods and then leans toward me. “You worked with Misty.”
She’s right next to him, but she’s not paying us a lick of attention. She’s actually talking quite a bit to Ariel rather than staring at River all night.
“Guilty,” I say. “Though it certainly wasn’t my idea. Not that any of us had a choice who we were paired with.”
He cocks his head, rakes his gaze over me. “I haven’t spent much time with Misty…or you. Would you like to take a walk later?”
I stop myself from widening my eyes. He’s right. He and I haven’t gotten to know each other at all. “That would be brilliant,” I say, polishing off the rest of my wine. “It seems you and Heather hit it off quite well during the cooking.”
He glances across the table to Heather and June, who sit across from us. They’re giggling and drinking and having what appears to be a splendid time.
“We did,” he says, sliding his finger around the rim of his wine goblet. “I’ve spent some…quality time with Heather.”
My neck heats. I’d forgotten about the Catamaran and the “no touch orgasm” game yesterday. Heather and Alex were paired together.
Seems like a lifetime ago.
“And did she enjoy that quality time?” I ask coyly.
He slides his tongue over his lower lip. “I didn’t hear any complaints.”